“I’m proud and satisfied, it’s hugely pleasurable to find myself with a group that buys into our project,” said Quesada after the victory.

“I’m very happy because we’ve made massive progress in defence. We won thanks to the attitude we showed in going after the bonus point at the end.”

It is six years since Stade have reached the Top 14 play-offs but they will start the New Year in pole position to finally end that sorry record, although they were top three games further into the season a year ago and still missed out.

Meanwhile Toulon, who didn’t use James O’Connor off the bench in his final game for the club, couldn’t cross the whitewash in Paris in a disappointing night at the office.